Abstract
Curie-point pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography (PGLC) was used to detect gross chemical differences between the 8 European pathotypes of the potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida. No qualitative differences were seen with either flame ionization or flame photometric detection systems, although quantitative differences between pathotypes were detected. Cluster analysis of these differences failed to group the pathotypes into species, but separation of some economically important pathotypes was achieved. The potential of PGLC for nematode identification is discussed.